A Good Treaty has a very interesting post up explaining some of the more plausible theories as to why Ella Pamfilova would suddenly resign from the Kremlin’s Human Rights Council – it’s a story that the English-language media have completely dropped the ball on, i.e. it has nothing to do with any kind of protest or rebellion over recently expanded FSB powers.  I never really bought into the idea that Pamfilova had suddenly grown a conscience.

I will assume that my readers have already heard about the now infamous “You’re Not Welcome Here” (Здесь вам не рады) exhibit at Seliger 2010. (For those who would like a quick rundown, Julia Ioffe summarizes the scandal here.)

Last Tuesday, just as the story broke worldwide, Pamfilova appeared on Ekho Moskvy to discuss the matter. For someone who works under the president, she was unusually unguarded about highlighting Medvedev’s (and Surkov’s) ties to a group she accuses of extremism. Here is what she said: